Method and apparatus for multi-experience adaptation of media content

ABSTRACT

A method or apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method for adapting media content of a source device for a recipient device. Characteristics of a first environment of a source device and of a second environment of a recipient can be identified. At least one difference between the characteristics of the first environment of the source device and the characteristics of the second environment of the recipient device can be determined. A presentation of media content can be modified according to the at least one difference between the characteristics of the first environment of the source device and the characteristics of the second environment of the recipient device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

RELATED APPLICATION

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/185,493, filed Jul. 18, 2011, byBasso et al., entitled “Method and Apparatus for Multi-ExperienceMetadata Translation of Media Content with Metadata,” is beingsimultaneously filed forthwith. All sections of the aforementionedapplication are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to media content and morespecifically to a multi-experience translation of media content

BACKGROUND

Media content is generally experienced by consumers via devices such ascomputers, televisions, radios, and mobile electronics. Media content isfrequently delivered by service providers, who send media content, suchas television programming, radio, and video, directly to consumers forenjoyment at their physical location. Service providers also oftenprovide access to the internet and to internet-based media content, suchas websites, games, social networking, and virtual-reality applications.Consumer media content experiences can be affected by their sensoryenvironment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-2 depict illustrative embodiments of communication systems thatprovide media services;

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal forinteracting with the communication systems of FIGS. 1-2;

FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication deviceutilized in the communication systems of FIGS. 1-2;

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a system;

FIGS. 6-7 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method operating inportions of the systems described in FIGS. 1-5; and

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, maycause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods discussedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure describes, among other things, illustrativeembodiments for adaptation of media content in accordance with aconsumer sensory environment. In one embodiment, differences betweensensory environments between a source device and a recipient device areused for media content adaptation. Other embodiments are contemplated bythe present disclosure.

One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a recipient devicehaving a memory and a processor. The processor can be operable toreceive sensory data representing a plurality of characteristics of anenvironment of a source device. The processor can also be operable toretrieve sensory information from an environment of the recipientdevice. The processor can further be operable to identify a plurality ofcharacteristics of the environment of the recipient device from thesensory information. The processor can be operable to determine at leastone difference between the plurality of characteristics of theenvironment of the source device and the plurality of characteristics ofthe environment of the recipient device. The processor can also beoperable to receive media content from the source device. The processorcan be further operable to modify a presentation of the media contentaccording to the at least one difference between the plurality ofcharacteristics of the environment of the source device and theplurality of characteristics of the environment of the recipient device.

One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a device having amemory and a processor. The processor can be operable to receive firstsensory data representing a plurality of characteristics of anenvironment of a source device. The processor can also be operable toreceive second sensory data representing a plurality of characteristicsof an environment of a recipient device. The processor can further beoperable to determine at least one difference between the plurality ofcharacteristics of the environment of the source device and theplurality of characteristics of the environment of the recipient device.The processor can be operable to receive media content from the sourcedevice. The processor can also be operable to modify a presentation ofthe media content according to the at least one difference between theplurality of characteristics of the environment of the source device andthe plurality of characteristics of the environment of the recipientdevice. The processor can be operable to provide the adapted mediacontent to the recipient device over a communication system.

One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a method where aplurality of characteristics of an environment of a source device can beidentified. A plurality of characteristics of an environment of arecipient device can also be identified. In turn, at least onedifference between the plurality of characteristics of the environmentof the source device and the plurality of characteristics of theenvironment of the recipient device can be determined. A presentation ofmedia content submitted from the source device to the recipient devicecan be modified according to at least one difference between theplurality of characteristics of the environment of the source device andthe plurality of characteristics of the environment of the recipientdevice.

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a first communicationsystem 100 for delivering media content. The novel communication system100 can collect sensory data characterizing environments at a sourcedevice and a recipient device. The communication system 100 can comparethe environmental characteristics of the source device withenvironmental characteristics at the recipient device to detectdifferences. The communication system 100 can use these differences tomodify presentation of the media content from the source device that canbe delivered at the recipient device.

The communication system 100 can represent an Internet ProtocolTelevision (IPTV) media system. The IPTV media system can include asuper head-end office (SHO) 110 with at least one super headend officeserver (SHS) 111 which receives media content from satellite and/orterrestrial communication systems. In the present context, media contentcan represent, for example, audio content, moving image content such as2D or 3D videos, video games, virtual reality content, still imagecontent, and combinations thereof. The SHS server 111 can forwardpackets associated with the media content to one or more video head-endservers (VHS) 114 via a network of video head-end offices (VHO) 112according to a common multicast communication protocol.

The VHS 114 can distribute multimedia broadcast content via an accessnetwork 118 to commercial and/or residential buildings 102 housing agateway 104 (such as a residential or commercial gateway). The accessnetwork 118 can represent a group of digital subscriber line accessmultiplexers (DSLAMs) located in a central office or a service areainterface that provide broadband services over fiber optical links orcopper twisted pairs 119 to buildings 102. The gateway 104 can usecommon communication technology to distribute broadcast signals to mediaprocessors 106 such as Set-Top Boxes (STBs) which in turn presentbroadcast channels to media devices 108 such as computers or televisionsets managed in some instances by a media controller 107 (such as aninfrared or RF remote control).

The gateway 104, the media processors 106, and media devices 108 canutilize tethered communication technologies (such as coaxial, powerlineor phone line wiring) or can operate over a wireless access protocolsuch as Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), Bluetooth, Zigbee, or other present ornext generation local or personal area wireless network technologies. Byway of these interfaces, unicast communications can also be invokedbetween the media processors 106 and subsystems of the IPTV media systemfor services such as video-on-demand (VoD), browsing an electronicprogramming guide (EPG), or other infrastructure services.

A satellite broadcast television system 129 can be used also in themedia system of FIG. 1. The satellite broadcast television system can beoverlaid, operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system as anotherrepresentative embodiment of communication system 100. In thisembodiment, signals transmitted by a satellite 115 carrying mediacontent can be received by a satellite dish receiver 131 coupled to thebuilding 102. Modulated signals received by the satellite dish receiver131 can be transferred to the media processors 106 for demodulating,decoding, encoding, and/or distributing broadcast channels to the mediadevices 108. The media processors 106 can be equipped with a broadbandport to the ISP network 132 to enable interactive services such as VoDand EPG as described above.

In yet another embodiment, an analog or digital cable broadcastdistribution system such as cable TV system 133 can be overlaid,operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system and/or the satelliteTV system as another representative embodiment of communication system100. In this embodiment, the cable TV system 133 can also provideInternet, telephony, and interactive media services.

It is contemplated that the present disclosure can apply to otherpresent or next generation over-the-air and/or landline media contentservices system.

Some of the network elements of the IPTV media system can be coupled toone or more computing devices 130, a portion of which can operate as aweb server for providing web portal services over an Internet ServiceProvider (ISP) network 132 to wireline media devices 108 or portablecommunication devices 116.

Multiple forms of media services can be offered to media devices overlandline technologies such as those described above. Additionally, mediaservices can be offered to media devices by way of a wireless accessbase station 117 operating according to common wireless access protocolssuch as Global System for Mobile or GSM, Code Division Multiple Accessor CDMA, Time Division Multiple Access or TDMA, Universal MobileTelecommunications or UMTS, World interoperability for Microwave orWiMAX, Software Defined Radio or SDR, Long Term Evolution or LTE, and soon. Other present and next generation wide area wireless networktechnologies are contemplated by the present disclosure.

Communication system 100 can also provide for all or a portion of thecomputing devices 130 to function as a media content adaptation server(herein referred to as server 130). The server 130 can use commoncomputing and communication technology to perform function 162, whichincludes among things, modification of media content in accordance witha consumer's environment. The server 130 can be used to receive sensorydata representing characteristics of an environment of a source device,such as one of the media processors 106, media devices 108, or portablecommunication devices 116. The server 130 can also be used to receivesensory data representing characteristics of an environment of arecipient device, such as another of the media processors 106, mediadevices 108, or portable communication devices 116. The server 130 canfurther be used to determine differences between the characteristics ofthe first and second sensory environments. The server 130 can be used tomodify a presentation of media content according to the differencesbetween the characteristics of the first and second sensoryenvironments. The server 130 can further be used to provide the modifiedmedia content to the recipient device over the communication system 100.The media processors 106 and portable communication devices 116 can beadapted with software functions 164 and 166, respectively, to furtherutilize the services of the server 130. For example, the mediaprocessors 106 and portable communication devices 116 can be adapted toexecute software functions 164 and 166, respectively, to collect andreport sensory data to the server 130 representing characteristics ofthe environments of the media processors 106 and portable communicationdevices 116, respectively.

FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system 200employing IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network architecture tofacilitate the combined services of circuit-switched and packet-switchedsystems. Communication system 200 can be overlaid or operably coupledwith communication system 100 as another representative embodiment ofcommunication system 100. The novel communication system 200 can beadapted to collect sensory data characterizing environments at a sourcedevice and a recipient device and to compare the environmentalcharacteristics of the source device with the environmentalcharacteristics at the recipient device to detect differences. The novelcommunication system 200 can also be adapted to use these differences tomodify presentation of the media content from the source device that canbe delivered at the recipient device.

Communication system 200 can comprise a Home Subscriber Server (HSS)240, a tElephone NUmber Mapping (ENUM) server 230, and other commonnetwork elements of an IMS network 250. The IMS network 250 canestablish communications between IMS-compliant communication devices(CDs) 201, 202, Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) CDs 203, 205,and combinations thereof by way of a Media Gateway Control Function(MGCF) 220 coupled to a PSTN network 260. The MGCF 220 need not be usedwhen a communication session involves IMS CD to IMS CD communications. Acommunication session involving at least one PSTN CD may utilize theMGCF 220.

IMS CDs 201, 202 can register with the IMS network 250 by contacting aProxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) which communicates with aninterrogating CSCF (I-CSCF), which in turn, communicates with a ServingCSCF (S-CSCF) to register the CDs with the HSS 240. To initiate acommunication session between CDs, an originating IMS CD 201 can submita Session Initiation Protocol (SIP INVITE) message to an originatingP-CSCF 204 which communicates with a corresponding originating S-CSCF206. The originating S-CSCF 206 can submit the SIP INVITE message to oneor more application servers (ASs) 217 that can provide a variety ofservices to IMS subscribers.

For example, the application servers 217 can be used to performoriginating call feature treatment functions on the calling party numberreceived by the originating S-CSCF 206 in the SIP INVITE message.Originating treatment functions can include determining whether thecalling party number has international calling services, call IDblocking, calling name blocking, 7-digit dialing, and/or is requestingspecial telephony features (e.g., *72 forward calls, *73 cancel callforwarding, *67 for caller ID blocking, and so on). Based on initialfilter criteria (iFCs) in a subscriber profile associated with a CD, oneor more application servers may be invoked to provide various calloriginating feature services.

Additionally, the originating S-CSCF 206 can submit queries to the ENUMsystem 230 to translate an E.164 telephone number in the SIP INVITEmessage to a SIP Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) if the terminatingcommunication device is IMS-compliant. The SIP URI can be used by anInterrogating CSCF (I-CSCF) 207 to submit a query to the HSS 240 toidentify a terminating S-CSCF 214 associated with a terminating IMS CDsuch as reference 202. Once identified, the I-CSCF 207 can submit theSIP INVITE message to the terminating S-CSCF 214. The terminating S-CSCF214 can then identify a terminating P-CSCF 216 associated with theterminating CD 202. The P-CSCF 216 may then signal the CD 202 toestablish Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication services,thereby enabling the calling and called parties to engage in voiceand/or data communications. Based on the iFCs in the subscriber profile,one or more application servers may be invoked to provide various callterminating feature services, such as call forwarding, do not disturb,music tones, simultaneous ringing, sequential ringing, etc.

In some instances the aforementioned communication process issymmetrical. Accordingly, the terms “originating” and “terminating” inFIG. 2 may be interchangeable. It is further noted that communicationsystem 200 can be adapted to support video conferencing. In addition,communication system 200 can be adapted to provide the IMS CDs 201, 202with the multimedia and Internet services of communication system 100 ofFIG. 1. It is further contemplated that the CDs of FIG. 2 can operate aswireline or wireless devices. For example, the CDs of FIG. 2 can becommunicatively coupled to a cellular base station 117 such as shown inFIG. 1, a femtocell (not shown), a WiFi router, a DECT base unit, oranother suitable wireless access unit to establish communications withthe IMS network 250 of FIG. 2.

If the terminating communication device is instead a PSTN CD such as CD203 or CD 205 (in instances where the cellular phone only supportscircuit-switched voice communications), the ENUM system 230 can respondwith an unsuccessful address resolution which can cause the originatingS-CSCF 206 to forward the call to the MGCF 220 via a Breakout GatewayControl Function (BGCF) 219. The MGCF 220 can then initiate the call tothe terminating PSTN CD over the PSTN network 260 to enable the callingand called parties to engage in voice and/or data communications.

It is further appreciated that the CDs of FIG. 2 can operate as wirelineor wireless devices. Although not shown, the CDs of FIG. 2 can becommunicatively coupled to a cellular base station 221, a femtocell, aWiFi router, a DECT base unit, or another suitable wireless access unitto establish communications with the IMS network 250 of FIG. 2. Thecellular access base station 121 can operate according to commonwireless access protocols such as Global System for Mobile (GSM), CodeDivision Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA),Universal Mobile Telecommunications (UMTS), World interoperability forMicrowave (WiMAX), Software Defined Radio (SDR), Long Term Evolution(LTE), and so on. Other present and next generation wireless networktechnologies are contemplated by the present disclosure. Accordingly,multiple wireline and wireless communication technologies arecontemplated for the CDs of FIG. 2.

It is further contemplated that cellular phones supporting LTE cansupport packet-switched voice and packet-switched data communicationsand thus may operate as IMS-compliant mobile devices. In thisembodiment, the cellular base station 221 may communicate directly withthe IMS network 250.

Communication system 200 can include or otherwise be coupled with server130 of FIG. 1 for purposes similar to those described above. It isfurther contemplated by the present disclosure that the server 130 canperform the function 162 and thereby provide a media content adaptationapplication for subscribers associated with CDs 201, 202, 203, and 205.CDs 201, 202, 203, and 205 can be adapted with software to performfunction 170 to utilize and integrate with the multi-experienceadaptation application performed by the server 130. It is furthercontemplated that the server 130 can be an integral part of theapplication server(s) 217, where the application server(s) 217 performsfunction 172, which can be substantially similar to function 162 andadapted to the operation of the IMS network 250.

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal 302 which canbe hosted by server applications operating from the computing devices130 of the communication system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. The webportal 302 can be used for managing services of communication systems100-200. A web page of the web portal 302 can be accessed by a UniformResource Locator (URL) with an Internet browser such as Microsoft'sInternet Explorer™, Mozilla's Firefox™, Apple's Safari™, or Google'sChrome™ using an Internet-capable communication device such as thosedescribed in FIGS. 1-2. The web portal 302 can be configured, forexample, to access a media processor 106 and services managed therebysuch as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), a Video on Demand (VoD) catalog,an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG), or a personal catalog (such aspersonal videos, pictures, audio recordings, etc.) stored at the mediaprocessor 106. The web portal 302 can also be used for provisioning IMSservices described earlier, provisioning Internet services, provisioningcellular phone services, and so on.

It is contemplated by the present disclosure that the web portal 302 canfurther be utilized to manage and provision software applications162-172 of the devices of FIGS. 1-2, respectively, as described earlier.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a communication device 400.Communication device 400 can serve in whole or in part as anillustrative embodiment of the devices depicted in FIGS. 1-2. The novelcommunication device 400 can capture sensory data corresponding toenvironmental characteristics at the communication device. The novelcommunication device 400 can transmit the environmental characteristicsto another communication device or to a server 100-200. The novelcommunications device 400 can adapt its graphical user interface toaccount for differences in environmental conditions. The communicationdevice 400 can comprise a wireline and/or wireless transceiver 402(herein transceiver 402), a user interface (UI) 404, a power supply 414,a location receiver 416, and a controller 406 for managing operationsthereof. The transceiver 402 can support short-range or long-rangewireless access technologies such as Bluetooth, WiFi, Digital EnhancedCordless Telecommunications (DECT), or cellular communicationtechnologies, just to mention a few. Cellular technologies can include,for example, CDMA-1×, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO, WiMAX,SDR, LTE, as well as other next generation wireless communicationtechnologies as they arise. The transceiver 402 can also be adapted tosupport circuit-switched wireline access technologies (such as PSTN),packet-switched wireline access technologies (such as TCPIP, VoIP,etc.), and combinations thereof.

The UI 404 can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad 408 witha navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, a joystick, a mouse, or anavigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device400. The keypad 408 can be an integral part of a housing assembly of thecommunication device 400 or an independent device operably coupledthereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USB cable) or awireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth. The keypad 408 canrepresent a numeric keypad commonly used by phones, and/or a Qwertykeypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI 404 can further include a display410 such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED(Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technology forconveying images to an end user of the communication device 400. In anembodiment where the display 410 is touch-sensitive, a portion or all ofthe keypad 408 can be presented by way of the display 410 withnavigation features.

The UI 404 can also include an audio system 412 that utilizes commonaudio technology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heardonly in the proximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such asspeakerphone for hands free operation). The audio system 412 can furtherinclude a microphone for receiving audible signals of an end user. Theaudio system 412 can also be used for voice recognition applications.The UI 404 can further include an image sensor 413 such as a chargedcoupled device (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving images.

The power supply 414 can utilize common power management technologiessuch as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulationtechnologies, and charging system technologies for supplying energy tothe components of the communication device 400 to facilitate long-rangeor short-range portable applications. The location receiver 416 canutilize common location technology such as a global positioning system(GPS) receiver capable of assisted GPS for identifying a location of thecommunication device 400 based on signals generated by a constellationof GPS satellites, thereby facilitating common location services such asnavigation.

The communication device 400 can use the transceiver 402 to alsodetermine a proximity to a cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth, or other wirelessaccess points by common sensing techniques such as utilizing a receivedsignal strength indicator (RSSI) and/or a signal time of arrival (TOA)or time of flight (TOF). The controller 406 can utilize computingtechnologies such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP),and/or a video processor with associated storage memory such as Flash,ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies.

The communication device 400 can be adapted to perform the functions ofthe media processor 106, the media devices 108, or the portablecommunication devices 116 of FIG. 1, as well as the IMS CDs 201-202 andPSTN CDs 203-205 of FIG. 2. It will be appreciated that thecommunication device 400 can also represent other common devices thatcan operate in communication systems 100-200 of FIGS. 1-2 such as agaming console and a media player.

Illustrative embodiments of methods that can operate in portions of thecommunication device of FIG. 4 are described below.

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a system 500 for adaptationof media content in accordance with a user's sensory environment. System500 can be overlaid or operably coupled to communication systems 100-200as another representative embodiment of communication systems 100-200.System 500 can include a server 530 in communication with mediaprocessors 506 (such as set-top boxes), computing devices 512 and 514(such as a laptop computer, tablet, etc.), and wireless communicationdevices 516 (such as mobile phones, smart phones, etc.). The mobiledevices 516 can be communicatively coupled to the server 530 by way of amobility network coupled to the Internet or other communication means.The computing devices 512 can also be communicatively coupled to theserver 530 by way of the Internet or other communication means.

The present disclosure contemplates a server 530 that among other thingsis capable of modifying media content in accordance with a user'ssensory environment. The server 530 can be used to receive first sensorydata representing characteristics of an environment 542 of a firstsource device 516. The server 530 can also be used to receive secondsensory data representing characteristics of a second sensoryenvironment 544 of a first recipient device 514. The server 530 canfurther be used to determine differences between the characteristics ofthe environments 542 and 544 of the first source device 516 and thefirst recipient device 514. The server 530 can be used to receive mediacontent from the first source device 516. The server 530 can further beused to modify a presentation of the media content according to thedifferences between the characteristics of the environments 542 and 544of the first source device 516 and the first recipient device 514. Theserver 530 can further be used to provide the modified media content tothe first recipient device 514 over the communication system 100. In oneexample, the first source device 516 can be a wireless or mobilecommunications device coupled to the communications system 100 through amobility network. The first recipient device 514 can be a computingdevice. In another example, a second source device 512 can be acomputing device while a second recipient device 506 can be a mediaprocessor, such as a set-top box, that presents the media content on adisplay device.

Each of environments 542-548 can comprise sensors 507, 513, 515 and 517to provide server 530 sensor data. The sensors can be virtual orphysical. In an embodiment where the sensors 507, 513, 515 and 517 arephysical sensors, these sensors can utilize technology that provides theserver 530 sensory information that includes without limitationtemperature, weather, lighting, color, images, video, audio, locationinformation, time, season of the year, aroma, and type of establishmentfrom which the source or recipient device is operating. Virtual sensorscan be an integral part of a virtual application operating in the sourceor recipient devices. A virtual application in the present context canrepresent a video game, virtual game such as Second Life™, anapplication including avatars, or a social media application. Thevirtual sensors can also provide the server 530 sensory information suchas temperature, weather, lighting, color, images, video, audio, locationinformation, time, season of the year, aroma, and type of establishmentpresented by the virtual application. Other forms of sensory data such amotion data (velocity, acceleration, etc.), orientation data (e.g.,compass information) and other forms of virtual applications arecontemplated by the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 depicts an illustrative method 600 that operates in portions ofthe devices of FIGS. 1-5. Method 600 can begin with step 602 in which arecipient device 506, 514 can receive sensory data representingcharacteristics of an environment of a source device 512, 516. Therecipient device 506, 514 can be a media processor 106, such as aset-top box. The media processor 106 can be connected to thecommunication system 100 via a gateway 104. The media processor 106 candeliver media content from the communication system 100 to a mediadevice 108, such as a television or a computing device. The recipientdevice 506, 514 can be a portable communication device 116, such as acomputing device, wireless computing device, or mobile communicationsdevice, and can receive media content from the communication system 100via a mobility network. As with the recipient device 506, 514, thesource device 512, 516 can also be a media processor 106, such as aset-top box, and can be connected to the communication system 100 via agateway 104. The source device 512, 516 can be a portable communicationdevice 116, such as a computing device, wireless computing device, ormobile communications device, and can receive media content from thecommunication system 100 via a mobility network.

Sensory data can represent an environment 542, 546 of the source device512, 516 or an environment 544, 548 of a recipient device 506, 514.Sensory data representing characteristic of the environment of thesource or recipient device can be derived from a “world” in which thedevice is operating. This “world” can be a physical world or a virtualworld. A physical world for a source or recipient device can bedescribed as environmental conditions that can be physically experiencedby one consuming media content at the source or recipient device. Thesensory data can be derived in a physical environment from sensors 507,513, 515 and 517 described earlier. A virtual world for a source orrecipient device can be described as environmental conditions presentedby the source or recipient device for a consumer of virtual content tovirtually experience. Physical and virtual worlds and the collection,distribution, and use of sensory data representing a physical or virtualenvironment are further described below with respect to a source device512, 516. However, it is to be understood that similar sensory data canbe collected, distributed, and used for representing a physical orvirtual environment for a recipient device 506, 514.

The physical world can be described as a collection of environmentalconditions and can be assessed by measuring and collecting sensory datarepresenting these environmental conditions. For example, sensory datacan represent sensory information relating to lighting, temperature,colors, background audio, video, images, and location details, such asroom spatial features, time-zone, season, and type of establishment(home or commercial enterprise). The source device 512, 516 can bedescribed as operating in a sensory environment 546, 542 that includes acompilation of sensory data for the physical world of the source device.For example, temperature, light intensity, and colorimetric data,aromatic data, background audio, video, and still images, and locationinformation can be collected at the source device 512, 516. Sensory datafor the sensory environment 546, 542 can be captured and/or compiled bysensors 513 and 517 operating in the source device 512, 516, or by otherdevices coupled to the communication system 100, or by a combination ofboth. Sensory data can detect characteristics, such as sound levels orlighting, that are consistent with of home or commercial environments tothereby detect and report a type of establishment.

The sensory data of the physical environment for the source device 512,516 can be translated into a standard format before being communicatedto the recipient device 506, 514 or to the media adaptation server 530.For example, raw temperature data can be initially collected at thesource device 512, 516 by direct sensing using a thermo probe. The rawtemperature data can be converted into a series of digital readings,statistically converted to a mean temperature or median temperature orrange of temperatures as needed. A single temperature, such as the meanor median, or a temperature range can then be reported from the sourcedevice 512, 516 and received at the recipient device 506, 514, or server530. A similar approach can be used for other sensory data, such aslight intensity, colorimetric data, aromatic data, or volume ofbackground sound or audio.

The sensory data of the physical environment for the source device 512,516 can include audio, video, and still images. For example, a paintingmight appear on a wall at the location of the source device. Thispainting represents a sensory aspect of the physical environment thatcan be replicated exactly or in modified form at a recipient device 506,514. The painting image can be captured at the source device 512, 516,by means of, for example, a camera device. The captured image can besaved as an image file, such as a Joint Photographic Experts Group, orJPEG, image file, or as another image file format. Similarly, backgroundaudio content, such as recorded or live music or soundtrack, ambientnoise, or any combination of sound present at the source device 512,516, can be captured by means of, for example, a microphone device. Thecaptured sound can be saved as a sound file, such as a Moving PictureExperts Group, or MPEG, sound file, or as another image file format.Similarly, background video or a combination of video and audio or ofvideo, audio, and still images can be captured at the source device. Forexample, a video camera or a combination of a video camera andmicrophone could be used to capture video of the environment of thesource device 512, 516. Video data can be saved, for example, as MPEGvideo files.

The sensory data of the physical environment for the source device 512,516 can include location information. For example, the location of thesource device 512, 516 can be captured by accessing Global PositioningSystem (GPS) satellite services. If the source device 512, 516 isphysically attached to the communication system 100, then its locationcan be determined by reference to the location of other entities ofknown locations. For example, if the source device 512, 516 is connectedto a router in a building of known location, then the location of thebuilding can be reported as the location. If the source device 512, 516accesses the communication system via a component of a mobility network117, such as specific cell tower, then the location of the mobilitynetwork component can be used.

The sensory data of the physical environment of the source device 512,516 can be provided to the recipient device 512, 514 or the mediaadaptation server 530. The sensory data can be sent as streaming data,files, or messages. The sensory data can be continuously updated or canbe periodic snapshots of environmental conditions. For example,temperature can reported each hour or can reported continuously witheach data transmission. Video data can be sent as a continuous stream orcan be converted into a series of still image snapshots to conservesystem bandwidth.

Sensory data representing a virtual “world” of a source device 512, 516can include environmental components that can be experienced virtuallyby one consuming virtual media content at the source device 512, 516. Avirtual world can be an environment that is presented by the sourcedevice 512, 516 as part of some type of virtual media content. Virtualmedia content can include video game applications, virtual worldapplications, applications that include avatars, social mediaapplications, and websites. Virtual media content can incorporatescenarios, perspectives, and role-playing attributes that allow aconsumer of the virtual media content to mentally experience variousaspects of another world, persona, or reality. Virtual media content caninclude virtual representations of otherwise physical phenomena, such aslighting, temperature, color, aroma, sound, movement, video, images, andspatial relationships. This “virtual” sensory data imitates physicalphenomena within a virtual context to bring a sense or “realness” to theexperience for the consumer.

Virtual sensory data representing components of the virtual environmentcan be available at the source device 512, 516 as digital data that isaccessed by a video game or virtual world application executing on thesource device. This virtual sensory data for the virtual environment canbe accessible by the game or application from graphics data files, MPEGfiles, JPEG files, and parameter files. The virtual sensory data canalso be accessible to the source device 512, 516 by accessing or parsingthese files as saved in local storage or as made available from anetwork source. The source device 512, 516 can be used as a displaydevice that merely reproduces graphics and audio from a data stream. Insuch a case, the virtual sensory data can be collected by monitoringrun-time data variables available through the operating system of thesource device 512, 516 or available from a graphic card or an audiocard.

The sensory data representing the environment of the source device 512,516 can be sent to the recipient device 506, 514 and/or to the server530. The sensory data can be sent by way of a “pushing” scheme, wheredata is broadcast or reported from the source device 512, 516 to therecipient device 506, 514 or server 530 as determined by the sourcedevice. The sensory data can be sent by way of “pulling” scheme, wheredata is only sent to the recipient device and/or server 530 whenrequested by the recipient device and/or server.

In step 604, the recipient device 506, 514 can retrieve sensoryinformation from an environment of the recipient device. The sensoryinformation can represent a physical world or a virtual world of therecipient device. The sensory information can be collected anddistributed similarly as the sensory data can be collected anddistributed for a source device 512, 516, as described above. Forexample, the recipient device 506, 514 can capture temperature data byway of a temperature probe or can capture video data by way of a camera,as described above. In step 606, the recipient device 506, 514 canidentify characteristics of the environment of the recipient device fromthe retrieved sensory information. For example, the recipient device candetermine a mean value or a range of values for temperature based oncaptured temperature data. The recipient device can convert capturedvideo into a standard file format or into a series of still images.

In step 608, the recipient device 506, 514 can determine differencesbetween the characteristics of the environment of the source device 512,516 and the characteristics of the environment of the recipient device.The recipient device 506, 512 can compare the set of characteristicsrepresenting the environment of the source device 512, 516 with the setof characteristics representing the environment of the recipient device.The recipient device 506, 514 can compare, for example, a physicalenvironment at the source device 512, 516 with a physical environment atthe recipient device 506, 514 by comparing the sensory data from eachdevice. For example, the source device 512, 516 may report brightlighting conditions, such a sunshine, as exhibited by lighting intensitysensory data. By comparison, the recipient device 506, 514 may haveidentified low-level lighting conditions based on a cloudy day ornighttime or poor indoor lighting. The recipient device 506, 514 cancompare the lighting conditions as like categories and detect thedifferences. Similarly, the recipient device 506, 514 can compare all ofthe other reported or identified physical sensory data for the twodevices, such as temperature, background audio, location, and the like.

For example, the recipient device 506, 514 can detect that backgroundwalls at the location of the source device 512, 516 are different thanthose at the location of the recipient device. The recipient device 506,514 can detect that the background walls at the location of the sourcedevice 512, 516 are smaller or shaped differently than those at thelocation of the recipient device. The recipient device 506, 514 candetect that the time zone at the location of the source device 512, 516is different than the time zone at the location of the recipient device.The recipient device 506, 514 can detect that the source device 512, 516is located at tropical latitude while the recipient device is located ina four-season climate that is currently experiencing winter conditions.

The recipient device 506, 514 can compare value or numerical-basedsensory data, such a temperature or light intensity or locationcoordinates. The recipient device 506, 514 can also comparecontent-based sensory data, such as video, audio, or still image contentto determine differences and can establish where these differences areattributable to the physical environments of the source device 512, 516and the recipient device 506, 514. The recipient device 506, 514 canalso compare presentation resources of the recipient device to those ofthe source device 512, 516. For example, the source device 512, 516 mayhave sophisticated surround sound audio resources, while the recipientdevice 506, 514 has stereo audio presentation resources. Additionally,the source device 512, 516 may have a high definition display resource,while the recipient device 506, 514 has a standard definition displayresource.

In addition to comparing physical environments, the recipient device506, 512 can compare virtual environments. For example, source device512, 516 can be presenting a virtual-reality video game while recipientdevice 506, 514 can be presenting a virtual application featuringavatars and virtual persons. The source device 512, 516 and recipientdevice 506, 514 can each be presenting a different virtual world, eachwith a virtual environment made up of many characteristics, to the usersof the respective devices. The recipient device 506, 512 can compare theset of characteristics representing the virtual environment of thesource device 512, 516 with the set of characteristics representing thevirtual environment of the recipient device. For example, the sourcedevice 512, 516 may report virtual conditions of out-of-doors, darkness,and a storm in the virtual-reality game as exhibited by sensory data ofvirtual lighting intensity or virtual precipitation or virtual wind. Bycomparison, the recipient device 506, 514 may have identifiedlow-lighting, but calm, indoor conditions, in the avatar-based game. Therecipient device 506, 514 can compare the virtual lighting, weather, andlocation conditions as like virtual categories and detect differences.Similarly, the recipient device 506, 514 can compare all of the otherreported or identified virtual sensory data for the two devices, such asaroma, background audio, images, and the like. The recipient device 506,514 can determine differences and can establish where these differencesare attributable to the virtual environments of the source device 512,516 and the recipient device 506, 514.

In addition to comparing physical-to-physical and virtual-to-virtualenvironments, the recipient device 506, 514 can also comparephysical-to-virtual and virtual-to-physical environments. For example,the recipient device 506, 514 can compare, for example, a physicalenvironment reported from the source device 512, 516 with a virtualenvironment presented at the recipient device 506, 514 by comparing theenvironment characterizations of each device. A characteristic of thevirtual environment presented on recipient device 506, 514 can beadapted to imitate a real-world, physical characteristic beingexperienced at the source device 512, 516. For example, the sourcedevice 512, 516 can be at a location experiencing a passing train thatcan be heard as audio and felt as vibration. Characteristics of audioand/or vibration can be reported from the source device 512, 516, suchas by an audio MPEG file, a background noise measurement (frequency,amplitude), or a vibration reading (frequency, amplitude). The recipientdevice 506, 514 can compare the reported physical sensory data tocharacteristics of the virtual world presented by the recipient device.The virtual world, for example, can be presenting a noisy restaurantwhere characteristic components of noise and vibration have beensimulated. The recipient device 506, 514 can compare the noise andvibration between the physical world where a train is passing and thevirtual world of the restaurant and detect differences that can beimportant to adapting a media presentation from a physical location ofthe source device 512, 516 to the virtual “location” of the recipientdevice.

In step 610, the recipient device 506, 514 can receive media contentfrom the source device 512, 516. The media content can be anycombination of text, audio, still images, video, three-dimensionalimages and video, graphics, or computer-generated media, and virtualgaming or avatar-based content. The media content can be associated withtelevision programming, movies, concerts, news, books, articles, audiocommunication, text messaging, SMS, instant messaging, weather reports,programming information, community information, captioning, video gameapplications, virtual world applications, applications includingavatars, social media applications, and websites. The media content canoriginate at the source device 512, 516 or from service provider(s) ofthe communication networks 100-200. A service provider can providelimited services, such as only providing media programming, or canprovide broad-based services, such as media programming, cellular phone,internet access, and on-demand services. These services can serve as anoriginating point for all or part of the media content at the sourcedevice 512, 516. The media content can be a combination of contentsourced from the service provider and content generated or modified bythe source device 512, 516. The media content can be received by therecipient device 506, 514 directly from the source device 512, 516, canbe received by the recipient device 506, 514 from the service providernetworks 100-200, or can be received by the recipient device 506, 514from the server 530.

In step 612, the recipient device 506, 514 can modify a presentation ofthe media content according to differences between the characteristicsof the environment of the source device 512, 516 and the characteristicsof the environment of the recipient device 506, 514. In step 614, therecipient device 506, 514 can adapt a user interface 404 of therecipient device 506, 514 according to a difference, or combination ofdifferences, between the characteristics of the environments of thesource device 512, 516 and the recipient device. The recipient device506, 514 can modify characteristics of a display 410 on a user interface404 of the recipient device 506, 514 or of a user interface, such asdisplay 508, in communication with the recipient device. For example,the source device 512, 516 can be located in bright conditions, whilethe recipient device 506, 514 is located in dark conditions. Therecipient device 506, 514 can detect the difference in environment andadjusts settings on the display 404, 508, such as brightness,backlighting, or contrast. The recipient device 506, 514 can adjust anaudio system 412 to account for difference in background noise betweenthe recipient device and the source device 512, 516.

The recipient device 506, 514 can also modify the user interface 404 toaccount for differences between physical and virtual worlds or betweentwo virtual worlds. For example, a user of the source device 512, 516,such as computing device, can be watching a music video within a virtualreality, avatar-based application presented on the computing device(e.g., the user's avatar is watching the video). The user can decide toshare this virtual experience with someone else on a recipient device506, 514 in the form of a mobile phone. The user of the user of thesource device 512, 516 can initiate a sharing of the music video contentwith the user of the recipient device 506, 514 by, for example, sendinga text with a link that directs the recipient device 506, 514 to thesource device 512, 516. The recipient device 506, 514 can receive themusic video (media content) from the source device 512, 516 along withsensory data representing the virtual environment that the source device512, 516 is presenting. The recipient device 506, 514 can compare thereceived, virtual environment characteristics of the source device 512,516 with retrieved and identified characteristics of the physicalenvironment of the recipient device 506, 514. The recipient device 506,514 can determine, for example, that the virtual world presentation ofthe music video includes a background sound of a virtual fountain. Therecipient device 506, 514 can alter the audio system 412 of the mobilephone to account for the presence of the fountain at the source device512, 516 either by adding a fountain sound to a reproduction of themusic video through the mobile phone audio system 412 (to share thecomplete experience of the source device user) or by reducing theplayback volume of the music video through the audio system (to accountfor a quieter listening environment for the recipient device user).

The recipient device 506, 514 can translate or transcode the mediacontent according to the differences between the characteristics of theenvironment of the source device 512, 516 and the characteristics of theenvironment of the recipient device 506, 514 in step 616. The recipientdevice 506, 514 can modify the format of the media content, can changethe encoding scheme used for the media content, or can alter the mediacontent to account for the detected environment differences when themedia content presented by or on the recipient device 506, 514. Forexample, the source device 512, 516 can be presenting a live cam videofeed of a flock of penguins in Antarctica to a user who is riding on asubway train. The user of the source device 512, 516 decides to sharethis television show with a user of a recipient device 506, 514. Therecipient device 506, 514 can be presenting, at the same time, a virtualreality application where the user of the recipient device 506, 514 is“living” in a virtual city. The user of the recipient device 506, 514can be attending a football game in the virtual-reality city. Ascoreboard at the virtual football game can be used to display video.Various physical world phenomena at the source device 512, 516 can beretrieved by the recipient device 506, 514 as sensory datacharacterizing the source device environment. The recipient device 506,514 can detect differences between the source and recipient devices. Forexample, the recipient device 506, 514 can transcode the media contentfrom the source device 512, 516 to work in the virtual environment byconverting from a streaming video format to an embedded video format,such as Flash™ video, a trademark of the Adobe Corporation of San Jose,Calif.

In another illustration, the media content can be in the form of contentof a virtual reality world being presented on the source device 512,516. For example, the source device 512, 516 can be presenting a virtualreality application where an avatar of a user “lives” in a house. Thehouse can have elements of home décor such as paintings, wall colors,and landscaping. The user decides to share her home in her virtualreality application with a user of the recipient device 506, 514, who isalso a “resident” in a virtual reality application. In the context ofthe virtual reality application, the décor elements can be identified ascharacteristics of the environment of the user of the source device 512,516. Therefore, the recipient device 506, 514 can receive the décorelements as characteristics of the source device virtual environment andcompare these characteristics to the virtual environment of therecipient device 506, 514. The user of the recipient device 506, 514 canhave different décor—paintings, colors, landscaping—at his house. Therecipient device 506, 514 can detect these differences and alter thecontent of the first user's house, as presented to the second user atthe recipient device 506, 514. The recipient device 506, 514 cantranslate the first house by substituting part of the content of thesecond house (to make the second user feel more at home in his friend'shouse).

FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative method 700 that operates in portions ofthe devices of FIGS. 1-5. Method 700 can begin with step 702 in which aserver 530 can receive first sensory data representing characteristicsof an environment 542, 546 of a source device 512, 516. The server 530can be used as a media adaptation server. The first sensory data canrepresent characteristics of the environment 542, 546 of the sourcedevice 512, 516 that can be derived from a “physical world” in which thedevice is located or from a “virtual world” being presented by thesource device 512, 516, as described above. In step 704, the server 530can receive second sensory data representing characteristics of anenvironment 544, 548 of the recipient device 506, 514. The secondsensory data can represent characteristics of the environment 544, 548that can be derived from a “physical world” in which the device islocated or from a “virtual world” being presented by the recipientdevice 506, 514, as described above. Since the server 530 can be locatedremotely from the recipient device 506, 514, the recipient device canreport sensory data to the server 530 in a fashion similar to thereporting of sensory data by the source device 512, 516 described in theprior embodiment.

In step 706, the server 530 can determine differences between thecharacteristics of the environments of the source device 512, 516 andthe recipient device 506, 514. The server 530 can compare the set ofcharacteristics representing the environment of the source device 512,516 with the set of characteristics representing the environment of therecipient device 506, 514. The server 530 can compare, for example, aphysical environment at the source device 512, 516 with a physicalenvironment at the recipient device 506, 514 by comparing the sensorydata from each device. The server 530 can determine differences and canestablish where these differences are attributable to the physical orvirtual environments of the source device 512, 516 and the recipientdevice 506, 514. The server 530 can determine differences betweencharacteristics of the environments of the source device 512, 516 andthe recipient device 506, 514 by similar means, and with similarcapabilities, as can be used by the recipient device 506, 514.

In step 708, the server 530 can receive media content from the sourcedevice 512, 516. The media content can be any combination of text,audio, still images, video, three-dimensional images and video,graphics, or computer-generated media, and virtual gaming oravatar-based content. The media content can be a combination of contentsourced from the service provider and content generated or modified bythe source device 512, 516. The media content can be received by theserver 530 directly from the source device 512, 516 or can be receivedby the server 530 from another device of the service provider ofnetworks 100-200.

In step 710, the server 530 can modify a presentation of media contentaccording to the differences between the characteristics of the sensoryenvironments of the source device 512, 516 and the recipient device 506,514. The server 530 can translate or transcode the media contentaccording to the differences between the characteristics of theenvironment of the source device 512, 516 and the characteristics of theenvironment of the recipient device 506, 514, in step 712. The server530 can modify the format of the media content, can change the encodingscheme used for the media content, or can alter the media content toaccount for the detected environment differences when the media contentis presented by or on the recipient device 506, 514. The server 530 canmodify the media content by similar means, and with similarcapabilities, as can be used by the recipient device 506, 514.

In step 714, the server 530 can provide the modified media content tothe recipient device 506, 514 over the communication system 100. Thesever 530 can provide the modified media content as a file, as streamingdata, or embedded in a message.

Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be evident to anartisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can bemodified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope andspirit of the claims described below. In one embodiment, the recipientdevice 506, 514 or the server 530 can use object recognitionapplications to compare known patterns, objects, shapes, sounds, and/orplaces that appear in the video, audio, or still image content reportedor identified as being of the source device 512, 516 and/or therecipient device 506, 514. By comparing recognized objects, patterns,shapes, sounds, and/or places, differences in the environments of thesource device 512, 516 and the recipient device 506, 514 can bedetermined to guide modification of the media content or of the userinterface of the recipient device 506, 514.

In one embodiment, the recipient device 506, 512 or the server 540 canuse object recognition applications to compare known patterns, objects,shapes, sounds, and/or places that appear in any virtual video, audio,or still image content reported or identified for the source device 512,516 and/or the recipient device 506, 514. Other embodiments arecontemplated by the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine inthe form of a computer system 800 within which a set of instructions,when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethods discussed above. One or more instances of the machine canoperate, for example, as the server 503, the media processor 506, thedisplay 508, computing devices 512, mobile devices 514, or combinationsthereof as described above. In some embodiments, the machine may beconnected (e.g., using a network) to other machines. In a networkeddeployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or aclient user machine in server-client user network environment, or as apeer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.

The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a smart phone, a laptop computer, adesktop computer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge,or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will beunderstood that a communication device of the present disclosureincludes broadly any electronic device that provides voice, video ordata communication. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, theterm “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machinesthat individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) ofinstructions to perform any one or more of the methods discussed herein.

The computer system 800 may include a processor 802 (e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a mainmemory 804 and a static memory 806, which communicate with each othervia a bus 808. The computer system 800 may further include a videodisplay unit 810 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, ora solid state display. The computer system 800 may include an inputdevice 812 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device 814 (e.g., amouse), a disk drive unit 816, a signal generation device 818 (e.g., aspeaker or remote control) and a network interface device 820.

The disk drive unit 816 may include a tangible computer-readable storagemedium 822 on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g.,software 824) embodying any one or more of the methods or functionsdescribed herein, including those methods illustrated above. Theinstructions 824 may also reside, completely or at least partially,within the main memory 804, the static memory 806, and/or within theprocessor 802 during execution thereof by the computer system 800. Themain memory 804 and the processor 802 also may constitute tangiblecomputer-readable storage media.

Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to,application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatusand systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety ofelectronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions intwo or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices withrelated control and data signals communicated between and through themodules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit.Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, andhardware implementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein are intended for operation as software programsrunning on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementationscan include, but not limited to, distributed processing orcomponent/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtualmachine processing can also be constructed to implement the methodsdescribed herein.

While the tangible computer-readable storage medium 822 is shown in anexample embodiment to be a single medium, the term “tangiblecomputer-readable storage medium” should be taken to include a singlemedium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database,and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets ofinstructions. The term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” shallalso be taken to include any non-transitory medium that is capable ofstoring or encoding a set of instructions for execution by the machineand that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods ofthe present disclosure.

The term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” shall accordinglybe taken to include, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such asa memory card or other package that houses one or more read-only(non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or other re-writable(volatile) memories, a magneto-optical or optical medium such as a diskor tape, or other tangible media which can be used to store information.Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more ofa tangible computer-readable storage medium, as listed herein andincluding art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which thesoftware implementations herein are stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards andprotocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switchednetwork transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) representexamples of the state of the art. Such standards are from time-to-timesuperseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentiallythe same functions. Wireless standards for device detection (e.g.,RFID), short-range communications (e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi, Zigbee), andlong-range communications (e.g., WiMAX, GSM, CDMA) are contemplated foruse by computer system 800.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparentto those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Otherembodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structuraland logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing fromthe scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representationaland may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may beexaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated toachieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodimentsshown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations orvariations of various embodiments. Combinations of the aboveembodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein,will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the abovedescription.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided with the understanding thatit will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of theclaims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can beseen that various features are grouped together in a single embodimentfor the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method ofdisclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that theclaimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited ineach claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subjectmatter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment.Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the DetailedDescription, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimedsubject matter.

What is claimed is:
 1. A recipient device, comprising: a recipientsensor; a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructionsthat, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance ofoperations, comprising: receiving sensory data representing a firstplurality of characteristics of a first environment of a source device,wherein the first environment comprises a first physical environment anda first virtual environment, wherein the first physical environmentcomprises a first lighting condition of a first real world environmentsensed by a source sensor coupled to the source device and wherein thefirst virtual environment comprises first virtual characteristics of afirst virtual world environment that is simulated by the source device;retrieving sensory information from the recipient sensor, wherein thesensory information comprises a second lighting condition of a secondreal world environment sensed by the recipient sensor; identifying asecond plurality of characteristics of a second environment from thesensory information; determining a difference between the firstplurality of characteristics of the first environment and the secondplurality of characteristics of the second environment; receiving mediacontent from the source device; and modifying a presentation of themedia content by adding to the media content a modified reproduction ofthe first lighting condition, wherein the modified reproduction of thefirst lighting condition is determined according to the differencebetween the first plurality of characteristics of the first environmentand the second plurality of characteristics of the second environment.2. The recipient device of claim 1, wherein the first physicalenvironment of the source device further comprises first physical imagesof the first real world environment sensed by the source device, whereinthe second environment further comprises second physical images of thesecond real world environment sensed, and wherein the media content isfurther modified to alter an image in the media content.
 3. Therecipient device of claim 1, wherein the first physical environment ofthe source device further comprises a non-audio, first physicalcharacteristic of the first real world environment sensed by the sourcedevice, wherein the second environment further comprises a non-audio,second physical characteristic of the second real world environment, andwherein the media content is further modified to mimic the firstphysical characteristic at the recipient device.
 4. The recipient deviceof claim 1, wherein the first virtual world environment that issimulated by the source device is generated by one of a first video gameapplication, a first virtual world application, a first applicationincluding avatars, a first social media application, or a combinationthereof.
 5. The recipient device of claim 1, wherein the secondenvironment further comprises second virtual characteristics of a secondvirtual world environment that is simulated by the recipient device. 6.The recipient device of claim 5, wherein the second virtual worldenvironment simulated by the recipient device is generated by one of asecond video game application, a second virtual world application, asecond application that includes an avatar, a second social mediaapplication, or a combination thereof.
 7. The recipient device of claim5, wherein the first virtual world environment and the second virtualworld environment are generated by a common application.
 8. Therecipient device of claim 1, wherein a virtual temperature of the firstvirtual world environment is compared to a physical temperature of thesecond real world environment.
 9. The recipient device of claim 1,wherein the first physical environment of the source device furthercomprises a first physical temperature of the first real worldenvironment sensed by the source device, wherein the second environmentfurther comprises second physical temperature of the second real worldenvironment, and wherein the media content presented at the recipientdevice is further modified to reflect the difference.
 10. The recipientdevice of claim 1, wherein the processor further performs operationscomprising transcoding the media content according to the differencebetween the first plurality of characteristics of the first environmentand the second plurality of characteristics of the second environment.11. The recipient device of claim 1, wherein the recipient devicecomprises one of a set-top box or a mobile communication device, andwherein the processor further performs operations comprising modifying auser interface of the recipient device according to the differencebetween the first plurality of characteristics of the first environmentand the second plurality of characteristics of the second environment.12. A device, comprising: a processor; and a memory that storesexecutable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitateperformance of operations, comprising: receiving first sensory datarepresenting a first plurality of characteristics of a first environmentof a source device, wherein the first environment comprises a firstphysical environment and a first virtual environment, wherein the firstphysical environment comprises a first lighting condition of a firstreal world environment sensed by a sensor of the source device;receiving second sensory data representing a second plurality ofcharacteristics of a second environment of a recipient device, whereinthe second environment comprises a second lighting condition of secondreal world environment sensed by the recipient device; determining adifference between the first lighting condition of the first environmentand the second lighting condition of the second environment; receivingmedia content from the source device; modifying a presentation of themedia content to generate a modified reproduction of the media contentto mimic the first lighting condition according the difference betweenthe first lighting condition and the second lighting condition; andtransmitting the modified reproduction of the media content to therecipient device over a communication system.
 13. The device of claim12, wherein the first virtual environment of a first virtual worldcomprises a first virtual characteristic, and wherein the media contentpresented at the recipient device is further modified according to thedifference to account for the first virtual characteristic at therecipient device.
 14. The device of claim 13, wherein the first virtualcharacteristic comprise one of temperature, lighting, images, video,audio, location, time, aroma or a combination thereof, as presented bythe source device.
 15. The device of claim 13, wherein the first virtualcharacteristic is generated by one of a video game application, avirtual world application, an application including avatars, a socialmedia application, or a combination thereof.
 16. A method, comprising:receiving, by a recipient device comprising a processor, a firstplurality of characteristics of a first environment of a source device,wherein the first environment comprises a first physical environment anda first virtual environment, wherein the first physical environmentcomprises first a lighting condition of a first real world environmentthat is sensed at the source device and wherein the first virtualenvironment comprises first virtual characteristics of a first virtualworld environment that is simulated by the source device; identifying,by the recipient device, a second plurality of characteristics of asecond environment, wherein the second environment comprises secondphysical characteristics of second real world environment simulated bythe recipient device; determining, by the recipient device, a differencebetween the first plurality of characteristics of the first environmentand the second plurality of characteristics of the second environment;and adapting, by the recipient device, a user interface of a mediapresentation element to modify a presentation of media content of thesource device according to the difference to mimic the lightingcondition of the first physical environment at the recipient device. 17.The method of claim 16 wherein the first physical environment of thesource device further comprises first physical images sensed by thesource device, wherein the second environment further comprises secondphysical images sensed at the recipient device, and wherein the mediacontent presented at the recipient device is further modified to alteran image in the media content according to the difference.
 18. Themethod of claim 16, wherein the second environment of the recipientdevice further comprises second virtual characteristics of a secondvirtual world environment that is simulated by the recipient device andwherein the second virtual characteristics are generated by one of avideo game application, a virtual world application, an applicationincluding avatars, or a combination thereof.